ML20052A929
| ML20052A929 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07001216 |
| Issue date: | 07/15/1976 |
| From: | Coulter G NAVY, DEPT. OF |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20049A233 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-81-428 1104-23, 1375, NUDOCS 8204290414 | |
| Download: ML20052A929 (5) | |
Text
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SA N DIEGO. CA LtFORNI A 92132 IN RE P' Y RE FE R TO:
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1104/ALS:vt N
10330 Ser: 1104-23 j
15 JUL 1976 From: Comander, Naval Undersea Center To:
Director, Division of Material and Fuel Cycle Facility Licensing, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C.
20555 Via:
Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (04N)
Subj: Special Nuclear Material License No.1154; request for modification of Enc 1: (1) Description of Power Source (2) Environmental and Operational Test of Radioisotope Power System l.
It is requested that SNM License No.1154 be amended to include the possession and use of an additional 10 gram quantity of plutonium-238 to be contained in a nuclear battery power source.
The power source is described in enclosure (1). The test program in which the power source is to be used is described in enclosure (2).
p y 2.
The program has been completed for which Item A on the license is authorized, 40 grams of plutonium-238 as oxide pellets. Accordingly, it is requested that this item be deleted from the license.
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$ fW GEORGE W. COULTER By direcAnirn
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DESCRIPTION OF POWER SOURCE l
The power source to be used in the test program is designated l
as "fluclear Battery, MB-75", and was manufactured by the Gulf Atomic Company, San Diego, California. The heat source was produced by Douglas Nuclear, Richland, Washington, and contains 10 grams of plutonium-238 as the oxide. The heat source is doubly encapsulated in tantalum and stainless steel containers.
The thermal output of the power source is 4 watts with an electrical output of 100 milliwatts.
Enclosure (1)
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7 ENVIRONMENTAL AND OPERATIONAL TEST OF NUCLEAR BATTERY SYSTEM 1.
General Information. Under a Navy program, the Naval Undersea Center is planning a test program to measure the effects of the ocean environment on the operating characteristics of an underwater geophysical measuring system powered by a nuclear battery source. The ocean tests introduce temperature,
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pressure, tidal, current and biotic effects not reproducable in the laboratory.
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It is planned that this program will extend over a period of two years, starting i
early in FY 1977.
1 2.
Test Site Description.f The program will be carried out at the Marine Environment Test Station,flocated An the protected (mainland) side of San Clemente Island, California. /The island itself, is located approximately 60 miles from the nearest mainland.
Figure 1 shows the location of San Clemente Island with respect to the Los Angeles area and the other channel islands. Also shown on Figure 1 is the north end of the island where all of the facilities to be used by this project are located. San Clemente Island is under the sole jurisdiction of the Naval Undersea Center. v$ntry to the
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island is restricted to personnel authorized by the Navy.
The emplacement area Will be the shallow water just off shore of the Marine Environment Test Station site, at North Light Harbor. The waters i
contiguous to the North Light Harbor are not normally used for projects other i
than those conducted at the Marine Environment Test Station.
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Test Program. The test program involves implantment of the nuclear battery power source - measuring system on the ocean bottom 1200 feet off shore of North Light Harbor in about 100 foot depth of wcter.
A 1500 foot electrical
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cable will lead from the power source system to a shore station. A sketch of g
the test layout is shown in Figure 2./At the shore station, the nuclearbattery f
output will be automatically and continually monitored.
g At one-month intervals the test system will be recovered, inspected and
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reimplanted if it is functioning normally.
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4.
Radiological Safety Measures.
Upon receipt of the power source, a complete
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rronitoring survey will be made, including neutron and gamma dose rates and surface and removeable alpha activity.
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During handling of the device, film badges, including beta-gama and
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neutron monitoring film, will be worn if dose rates indicate the need.
Each time the system is removed from the water, appropriate contamination control measures, including protective clothing, will be employed and a contamination monitoring survey will be made.
Safety personnel will be present for monitoring services during recovery, examination and reimplantment of the sys tem.
Upon completion of the test program, the power source will be returned to the supplier, Gulf Atomics, Inc., San Diego, California.
Enclosure (2)
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